We present first observations of the transversity parton distribution based on an analysis of pion-pair production in deep-inelastic scattering off transversely polarized targets. The extraction of ... [more ▼]

Atmospheric CH3OH (methanol) free tropospheric (2.09-14 km altitude) time series spanning 22 years has been analyzed based on high spectral resolution infrared solar absorption spectra of the strong ν8 ... [more ▼]

Atmospheric CH3OH (methanol) free tropospheric (2.09-14 km altitude) time series spanning 22 years has been analyzed based on high spectral resolution infrared solar absorption spectra of the strong ν8 band recorded from the U.S. National Solar Observatory on Kitt Peak (latitude 31.9°N, 111.6°W, 2.09 km altitude) with a 1-m Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The measurements span October 1981 to December 2003 and are the first long time series of CH3OH measurements obtained from the ground. The results were analyzed with SFIT2 version 3.93 and show a factor of three variations with season, a maximum at the beginning of July, a winter minimum, and no statistically significant long-term trend over the measurement time span. [less ▲]

in Proceedings of the Second Workshop on the Atmospheric Chemistry Validation of ENVISAT (ACVE-2), ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy, 3-7 May 2004 (ESA SP-562, August 2004) ESC01JL1 (2004, August)

In early 2004, the near real-time data processor of ENVISAT SCIAMACHY (SCI_NL) was upgraded to version 5.01. Based on the correlative measurements acquired and collected during the commissioning phase of ... [more ▼]

In early 2004, the near real-time data processor of ENVISAT SCIAMACHY (SCI_NL) was upgraded to version 5.01. Based on the correlative measurements acquired and collected during the commissioning phase of the satellite in 2002, a preliminary validation was organised to verify the improvement and assess the geophysical consistency of the new SCIAMACHY ozone vertical column data product. The present overview summarises the results obtained by a list of validation teams and involving ground-based data acquired from pole to pole by complementary ground-based sensors. The studies conclude to an improvement compared to previous versions 3.5x. They also confirm the presence of expected errors (e.g. dependence on solar elevation and on ozone column) inherited from the GOME Data Processor GDP 2.4, on which the SCIAMACHY processor SCI_NL is based. [less ▲]

In the framework of the Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) project, a HARPSpol Large Program at the 3.6m-ESO telescope has recently started to collect high-resolution spectropolarimetric data of a large ... [more ▼]

In the framework of the Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) project, a HARPSpol Large Program at the 3.6m-ESO telescope has recently started to collect high-resolution spectropolarimetric data of a large number of Southern massive OB stars in the field of the Galaxy and in many young clusters and associations. We report on the first discoveries of magnetic fields in two massive stars with HARPSpol - HD 130807 and HD 122451, and confirm the presence of a magnetic field at the surface of HD 105382 that was previously observed with a low spectral resolution device. The longitudinal magnetic field measurements strongly vary for HD 130807 from ~-100 G to ~700 G. Those of HD 122451 and HD 105382 are less variable with values ranging from ~-40 to -80 G, and from ~-300 to -600 G, respectively. The discovery and confirmation of three new magnetic massive stars, including at least two He-weak stars, is an important contribution to one of MiMeS objectives: the understanding of the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars and their impact on stellar structure and evolution. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile (Program ID 187.D-0917). [less ▲]

Imaging debris discs in the L'-band (3.8 μm) is a difficult task. Quasi-static speckles from imperfect optics prevail below 1'' whereas background emission is the dominant noise source beyond that separation and is much larger than at shorter wavelengths. We demonstrate here the potential of the newly commissioned AGPM coronograph on VLT/NaCo combined with advanced star and sky subtraction technique based on Principal Component Analysis, and we analyze the morphology of the β Pictoris disc. [less ▲]

We show for the first time images of solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) viewed using the Heliospheric Imager (HI) instrument aboard the NASA STEREO spacecraft. The HI instruments are wide-angle imaging ... [more ▼]

We show for the first time images of solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) viewed using the Heliospheric Imager (HI) instrument aboard the NASA STEREO spacecraft. The HI instruments are wide-angle imaging systems designed to detect CMEs in the heliosphere, in particular, for the first time, observing the propagation of such events along the Sun Earth line, that is, those directed towards Earth. At the time of writing the STEREO spacecraft are still close to the Earth and the full advantage of the HI dual-imaging has yet to be realised. However, even these early results show that despite severe technical challenges in their design and implementation, the HI instruments can successfully detect CMEs in the heliosphere, and this is an extremely important milestone for CME research. For the principal event being analysed here we demonstrate an ability to track a CME from the corona to over 40 degrees. The time altitude history shows a constant speed of ascent over at least the first 50 solar radii and some evidence for deceleration at distances of over 20 degrees. Comparisons of associated coronagraph data and the HI images show that the basic structure of the CME remains clearly intact as it propagates from the corona into the heliosphere. Extracting the CME signal requires a consideration of the F-coronal intensity distribution, which can be identified from the HI data. Thus we present the preliminary results on this measured F-coronal intensity and compare these to the modelled F-corona of Koutchmy and Lamy ( IAU Colloq. 85, 63, 1985). This analysis demonstrates that CME material some two orders of magnitude weaker than the F-corona can be detected; a specific example at 40 solar radii revealed CME intensities as low as 1.7×10[SUP]-14[/SUP] of the solar brightness. These observations herald a new era in CME research as we extend our capability for tracking, in particular, Earth-directed CMEs into the heliosphere. [less ▲]

The very first characterization of the structural properties of polymer films obtained by electrografting is reported. AFM-based force spectroscopy was used to investigate poly-N-succinimidyl acrylate ... [more ▼]

The very first characterization of the structural properties of polymer films obtained by electrografting is reported. AFM-based force spectroscopy was used to investigate poly-N-succinimidyl acrylate (PNSA) layers electrografted directly from a silicon substrate. Quantitative analysis of compression profiles obtained in a good solvent and single molecule bridging interaction, in light of the Alexander-de Gennes model, gave access to the grafting density and degree of polymerization. A high swelling capacity has been evidenced. This report is the first evidence that polymers obtained by cathodic electrografting are in fact brush systems, and consequently the first evidence that a polymer brush can be obtained from a direct "grafting from" method, without any intermediate layer. [less ▲]

Pleomorphic adenoma, or mixed tumor of the salivary glands, is a benign tumor originating from the major and minor salivary glands. Eighty-five percent of these tumors are found in the parotid gland, 10 ... [more ▼]

Pleomorphic adenoma, or mixed tumor of the salivary glands, is a benign tumor originating from the major and minor salivary glands. Eighty-five percent of these tumors are found in the parotid gland, 10% in the minor (sublingual) salivary glands, and 5% in the submandibular gland. It is the most common type of salivary gland tumor, accounting for almost 50% of all neoplasms in these organs. In fact, after the first observation of recurrent loss of chromosome 22 in meningioma, this was the second type of benign tumor for which non-random chromosomal changes were reported. The rate of malignant change with the potential to metastasize has been reported to be only 2 to 3%, and only a few cases of metastasizing pleomorphic salivary gland adenomas have been described to date. The fact that these tumors arise in organs located in an ontogenetic transitional zone, a region where endoderm and ectoderm meet, might be one of the reasons for the often-problematic histopathological classification. This type of benign tumor has been cytogenetically very well-characterized, with several hundreds of tumors karyotyped. In addition to the cytogenetic subgroup with an apparently normal diploid stemline (making up approximately 30% of the cases), three major cytogenetic subgroups can be distinguished. In addition to a subgroup showing non-recurrent clonal abnormalities, another subgroup is various translocations involving 12q15. By far the largest cytogenetic subgroup, however, consists of tumors with chromosome 8 abnormalities, mainly showing translocations involving region 8q12. The most frequently encountered aberration in this group is a t(3;8)(p21;q12). [less ▲]

in Veterinary Record : Journal of the British Veterinary Association (2009), 164(20), 623-6

The observation of the first two outbreaks of bovine parafilariosis in Belgium led to a preliminary epidemiological investigation conducted through a telephone survey among veterinarians in a limited area ... [more ▼]

The observation of the first two outbreaks of bovine parafilariosis in Belgium led to a preliminary epidemiological investigation conducted through a telephone survey among veterinarians in a limited area around the outbreaks. Typical clinical signs consisting of bleeding spots and areas of oedema were recorded, and the aetiology was confirmed through the observation of typical embryonated eggs of Parafilaria bovicola in the exudate. The localisation of the lesions on the withers, neck, back and, to a smaller extent, the rump of the animals, and their first appearance in early spring, were additional useful epidemiological observations. The clinical herd prevalence in the area was 14.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 11.3 to 17.2 per cent), suggesting that bovine parafilariosis is established in the area. [less ▲]

We present results from the first two quarters of a survey to search for pulsations in compact stellar objects with the Kepler spacecraft. The survey sample and the various methods applied in its ... [more ▼]

We present results from the first two quarters of a survey to search for pulsations in compact stellar objects with the Kepler spacecraft. The survey sample and the various methods applied in its compilation are described, and spectroscopic observations are presented to separate the objects into accurate classes. From the Kepler photometry we clearly identify nine compact pulsators and a number of interesting binary stars. Of the pulsators, one shows the strong, rapid pulsations typical of a V361 Hya-type sdB variable (sdBV); seven show long-period pulsation characteristics of V1093 Her-type sdBVs; and one shows low-amplitude pulsations with both short and long periods. We derive effective temperatures and surface gravities for all the subdwarf B stars in the sample and demonstrate that below the boundary region where hybrid sdB pulsators are found, all our targets are pulsating. For the stars hotter than this boundary temperature a low fraction of strong pulsators (<10 per cent) is confirmed. Interestingly, the short-period pulsator also shows a low-amplitude mode in the long-period region, and several of the V1093 Her pulsators show low-amplitude modes in the short-period region, indicating that hybrid behaviour may be common in these stars, also outside the boundary temperature region where hybrid pulsators have hitherto been found. [less ▲]

The SWAP telescope (Sun Watcher using Active Pixel System detector and Image Processing) is an instrument launched on 2nd November 2009 on-board the ESA PROBA2 technological mission. SWAP is a space ... [more ▼]

The SWAP telescope (Sun Watcher using Active Pixel System detector and Image Processing) is an instrument launched on 2nd November 2009 on-board the ESA PROBA2 technological mission. SWAP is a space weather sentinel from a low Earth orbit, providing images at 174 nm of the solar corona. The instrument concept has been adapted to the PROBA2 mini-satellite requirements (compactness, low power electronics and a-thermal opto-mechanical system). It also takes advantage of the platform pointing agility, on-board processor, Packetwire interface and autonomous operations. The key component of SWAP is a radiation resistant CMOS-APS detector combined with onboard compression and data prioritization. SWAP has been developed and qualified at the Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) and calibrated at the PTB-Bessy facility. After launch, SWAP has provided its first images on 14th November 2009 and started its nominal, scientific phase in February 2010, after 3 months of platform and payload commissioning. This paper summarizes the latest SWAP developments and qualifications, and presents the first light results. [less ▲]

The Airglow and Solar Spectrometer Instrument (ASSI) on the San Marco D satellite has obtained near-simultaneous measurements of solar irradiances and airglow emissions in the 200-7000 A spectral region ... [more ▼]

The Airglow and Solar Spectrometer Instrument (ASSI) on the San Marco D satellite has obtained near-simultaneous measurements of solar irradiances and airglow emissions in the 200-7000 A spectral region. The satellite was placed in an equatorial, elliptical orbit on 25 March 1988, which permitted observations of airglow emissions in the 280-600-km altitude range at various local times. The instrument complement on the satellite provides an opportunity both for self-consistent examination of the excitation mechanisms of various airglow features and for constraining model parameters. An overview of the data obtained by ASSI is presented along with preliminary modeling results of the UV airglow. [less ▲]

We present results of a detailed stability survey of the pulsation properties of accreting white dwarfs of the GW Lib type. This is based on several state-of-the- art white dwarf evolutionary sequences ... [more ▼]

We present results of a detailed stability survey of the pulsation properties of accreting white dwarfs of the GW Lib type. This is based on several state-of-the- art white dwarf evolutionary sequences with varying envelope compositions, from pure hydrogen to pure helium. Using the same tools as in Van Grootel et al. (2013), where we have presented the first consistent view of the ZZ Ceti instability strip, we have mapped the GW Lib instability strip over the effective temperature-surface gravity plane, and as a function of envelope composition. We find that the location of the GW Lib instability domain is a strong and continuous function of the assumed envelope composition. We can accomodate all of the known GW Lib pulsators in various strips according to their atmospheric compositions. [less ▲]

We present results of a detailed stability survey of the pulsation properties of accreting white dwarfs of the GW Lib type. This is based on several state-of-the- art white dwarf evolutionary sequences ... [more ▼]

We present results of a detailed stability survey of the pulsation properties of accreting white dwarfs of the GW Lib type. This is based on several state-of-the- art white dwarf evolutionary sequences with varying envelope compositions, from pure hydrogen to pure helium. Using the same tools as in Van Grootel et al. (2013), where we have presented the first consistent view of the ZZ Ceti instability strip, we have mapped the GW Lib instability strip over the effective temperature-surface gravity plane, and as a function of envelope composition. We find that the location of the GW Lib instability domain is a strong and continuous function of the assumed envelope composition. We can accomodate all of the known GW Lib pulsators in various strips according to their atmospheric compositions. [less ▲]